Missile Defense Progress

On July 30, the U. S. Navy successfully conducted another test of its developing missile defense capability, destroying a target missile 100 miles out from Earth.

The next test is scheduled to use a more powerful rocket engine in the interceptor. Building a shield that could knock down thousands of sophisticated ICBMs is still in the realm of science fiction, but that's no longer the need. The object now is to have the capability to knock down one, or a few, simple ICBMs launched, for example, from a rogue state like North Korea. Having such a defensive system could potentially save an American city.